Have you noticed that the world seems to have gone a little overboard in terms of independence? I was shocked one day to sit in a restaurant and overhear a rather loud discussion among a group of older adults. I couldn’t believe these people were saying that everything they had accomplished in life they did on their own, no one ever helped them. Really? Where were their parents, teachers, employers, friends?

No one can survive totally on their own, without others. Life in this world is not always easy. We need each other.

Now I’m not talking about giving control of our minds or lives over to another person. I’m talking about interdependence. I like the definition from Wikipedia which defines interdependence as “mutual reliance between two or more groups.” The key word here is “mutual.” We’re not talking about one person or group controlling others. What we are talking about is people looking out for each other, caring and working together for the common good.

I believe an extreme belief in independence has been a contributing factor to the division and turmoil in much of the world today. We don’t have to agree with those around us to see that the world might be a better place if we could learn to work together. Will it be easy? No. Will it be worth it? Absolutely!

Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”– Vicktor Emil Frankl (Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist)

When despair for the world grows in meand I wake in the night at the least soundin fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,I go and lie down where the wood drakerests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.I come into the peace of wild thingswho do not tax their lives with forethoughtof grief. I come into the presence of still water.And I feel above me the day-blind starswaiting with their light. For a timeI rest in the grace of the world, and am free.”
― Wendell Berry, The Selected Poems of Wendell Berry

“The freedom we are looking foris the freedom to be ourselves,to express ourselves. But if we look at our liveswe will see that most of the timewe do things just to please others …The worst part is that most of usare not even aware that we are not free.”
– Don Miguel Ruiz

“Today I choose life. Every morning when I wake up I can choose joy, happiness, negativity, pain… To feel the freedom that comes from being able to continue to make mistakes and choices – today I choose to feel life, not to deny my humanity but embrace it.” — Kevyn Aucoin

“Every human has four endowments- self awareness, conscience,independent will and creative imagination.These give us the ultimate human freedom…The power to choose, to respond, to change.”
– Stephen Covey

Follow Espirational

Archives

Archives

gALLERY SEARCH – Want a quicker way to see a certain type of product in The Espirational Gallery? Type in one of the following department catagory titles to see products only in that department: >Art Shop >Bookshelves >Art & Craft Supplies >Private Collections

Free Maintenance Manual

Follow Blog via Email

Legal Notices

The information on Espirational.com is not meant to take the place of health care or services you may need. Please see your primary health care provider about any personal health concerns.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE:

These articles and everything on this site in either written, audio, visual or data form, including art representations and actual art, are copyrighted under U.S. and international laws. No reproductions are permitted unless otherwise granted in writing.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here:
Cookie Policy